Ordination of women
As a participant in the papal audience at which the issue of women deacons was raised (News Briefing, The Church in the World, 21 May), what has remained with me is the atmosphere and manner in which the audience was conducted. Eight hundred and seventy women leaders of religious orders from about 80 countries, representing more than half a million sisters, were present. Pope Francis exuded respect and humility. The one and a half hours we spent with him lacked all pomp and ceremony. The only people who spoke were Francis himself and a number of sisters. He said that he had no desire to preach at us, rather he wanted to hear our questions and to reflect on them with us. After each sister asked her question, the Pope rose from his seat and gave her a hug – no kissing of rings! Some of his responses were clear and emphatic, others more reflective. There were so many friendly gestures, a real simplicity about the man – a man who holds doors open for others to go through first; a man whose last words to us were that we needed to know the importance of “rest” in our busy lives; a man who is holy in his humanity. What a gift to the Church at this time!